From Failure to Finding Her Purpose | Elle Freeders

Laid off from her first job after college. What happens when the career you thought was your dream job turns out to be preparing you for something even better?

If you're navigating your first layoff, entering the workforce after college, or questioning whether you're on the right career path, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Pink Slip Pavilion, host Ashley Waddington sits down with healthcare professional Elle Freeders to talk about what it really feels like to lose your first job after college and how one unexpected career setback led her to discover work that fit her strengths far better than the path she originally planned.

Just six months into her first professional role, Elle was settling into life after college. She had her own apartment, was building a new routine, and believed she was doing everything right. Then, without warning, she was laid off.

The experience shook her confidence.

She questioned whether she had failed.

She wondered how she would pay her bills and whether she'd ever find another opportunity.

But one piece of feedback from her former employer changed everything.

Instead of viewing the layoff as the end of her career, Elle used that feedback to explore a different side of healthcare—one she had never considered before.

It turns out, it was exactly where she belonged.

In this conversation, Elle shares how staying open to unexpected opportunities helped her find a career she enjoys even more, why career paths are rarely linear, and how one painful season ultimately led to greater confidence, leadership opportunities, and a life she never expected.

Her story is a powerful reminder that doing everything "right" doesn't guarantee life will go according to plan—but it also doesn't mean you're on the wrong path.

In this episode, we cover:

• Getting laid off from your first job after college

• Entering the workforce during the post-COVID job market

• Navigating unemployment as a young professional

• The emotional impact of losing your first "grown-up" job

• Managing financial stress after a layoff

• Why career paths are rarely linear

• Turning constructive feedback into career direction

• Discovering strengths you didn't know you had

• Finding the right fit instead of forcing the original plan

• Leadership opportunities that came from an unexpected career shift

• Building confidence after early career setbacks

• The importance of leaning on family and friends during difficult seasons

• Why it's okay to change direction professionally

• How one layoff led to greater fulfillment both professionally and personally

If you're experiencing job loss early in your career, wondering if you've fallen behind, or questioning your next step, this conversation will remind you that one setback doesn't define your future.

Elle reminds us:

It's going to be okay.

Sometimes the career you thought you wanted simply opens the door to the one you're actually meant for.

CONNECT WITH ELLE:

Instagram: @elle.freeders

Tik Tok: @ellefreeders

X: @efreederselle

Pink Slip Pavilion is a podcast about layoff recovery, job loss, career transitions, entrepreneurship, and turning career disruption into growth.

New episodes release every Wednesday.